Favorite Picks: Christie's: Important 20th Century Decorative Art & Design

December is finally upon us. With it brings the best of the best in design artifacts, as the auction houses bring their finest consignments to the market to close the year.

Now let's visit Christies's Important 20th Century Decorative Art & Design auction, taking place in New York on December 14th. These are my favorite picks:

A rare 4-arm swiveling wall lamp by SERGE MOUILLE.

A pair of Os sconces and a pair of Papillion sconces by GEORGES JOUVE.

A monochromatic bookcase by CHARLOTTE PERRIAND.

A KAARE KLINT sofa in tufted brown leather.

A Willow Sculpture by HARRY BERTOIA.

A pair of tondos by ETTORE SOTTSASS.


Important 20th Century Decorative Art & Design takes place in New York, December 14th.  See the full preview here.

Favorite Picks: Sotheby's: Important 20th Century Design

December is finally upon us. With it brings the best of the best in design artifacts, as the auction houses bring their finest consignments to the market to close the year.

Next let's look at Sotheby's Important 20th Century Design auction, taking place in New York on December 15th. These are my favorite picks:

A rare swivel chair by HANS WEGNER.

A dining table by SAM MALOOF.

A lyrical brass chandelier by PAAVO TYNELL.

A brass and free-edge glass wall mirror and floating shelf by MAX INGRAND.

A coffee table by PAUL DUPRÉ-LAFON.

A table lamp by GEORGE NAKASHIMA.

A bookcase and credenza by GIO PONTI.

A pair of leather PK 22 lounge chairs by POUL KJÆRHOLM.

A rare table lamp by MAX INGRAND.

An ashtray by MARIANNE BRANDT.

A rare sugarbowl and creamer ILONKA KARASZ.

A vase by LA MAISON DESNY.

A light sculpture by GIANFRANCO FINI.


Important 20th Century Design takes place in New York, December 15th.  See the full preview here.

Favorite Picks: Wright: Italian Masterworks

December is finally upon us. With it brings the best of the best in design artifacts, as the auction houses bring their finest consignments to the market to close the year.

My next feature is Wright's Italian Masterworks auction, taking place in Chicago on December 13th. This is the first half of a double-header day for Wright, with Important Design taking place afterwards. These are my favorite picks:

A pair of FONTANA ARTE Dalia chandeliers, sold in separate lots.

A rare glass encased table lamp by PIETRO CHIESA.

Rare tri-color glass sconces by MAX INGRAND.

A unique dining table by ICO PARISI.

A fantastic blue-green glass coffee table by FONTANA ARTE (usually ascribed to GIO PONTI). A catalog excerpt:

Fontana Arte’s acclaimed round coffee tables from the mid-late 1950s were produced in an several colors and with varied artistic decoration. This example made in green-blue features a flat pane of crystal superimposed over a thick, concaved and mirrored crystal. The effect of the layered, curved glass obscures the clarity of the mirrored surface creating a mesmerizing reflection that imitates flowing water.

A rare and lyrical chair by GIO PONTI, from Conti Contini Bonaccossi, Florence.

A GIO PONTI Distex armchair with brass frame.


Italian Masterworks takes place in Chicago, December 13th.  See the full preview here.

Favorite Picks: Wright: Important Design

The second half of a double-header day for Wright, Important Design takes place in Chicago on December 13th, immediately following Italian Masterworks. These are my favorite picks:

Two very rare, and very different chandeliers by GINO SARFATTI, one of hanging multi-colored illuminated disks, and another of spiraling brass and enameled steel.

Also two very rare, and very different sculptures by HARRY BERTOIA, one a multi-paneled light screen, the other a brass coated wire form.

A magnificent pair of floor lamps by PIETRO CHIESA.

A sculptural wooden Gazelle dining table by DAN JOHNSON.

Floating walnut wall cabinets by both MICHAEL COFFEY and GEORGE NAKASHIMA.

A GABRIELLA CRESPI coffee table with sliding top.

A faceted cabinet by PAUL EVANS.

A coffee table by LOVA CREATION featuring a top of etched brass and an inlayed agate specimen.

A wood and aluminum lounge chair by GIUSEPPE PAGANO.

A Leaf table lamp by MARIA PERGAY.

A game table, Serpentin chandelier, and coffee table, all by JEAN ROYÈRE.


Important Design takes place in Chicago, December 13th.  See the full preview here.

Favorite Picks: Phillips de Pury: Design

December is finally upon us. With it brings the best of the best in design artifacts, as the auction houses bring their finest consignments to the market to close the year.

Next is Phillips de Pury's Design auction, taking place in New York on December 12th. This is the second half of a duo design event for Phillips, with Design Masters taking place the previous day. These are my favorite picks:

A sculptural Ring chair of by the master of stainless steel MARIA PERGAY.

A rare table lamp with integrated vase by MAX INGRAND for Fontana Arte.

A unique centre table with handpainted fabric by GIO PONTI for the Trunfio House.

A rare ICO PARISI Egg chair.

A rare armchair by CARLO DE CARLI and ENZO MORELLI.

Armchairs by GIO PONTI, designed for the First Class Ballroom of the ‘Augustus’ transatlantic ocean liner in 1950.

A spiraling floor lamp in brass and marble by GINO SARFATTI for Arteluce.

A trio of Hirondelle wall lamps by JEAN ROYÈRE.

A 3-armed wall lamp by SERGE MOUILLE.

A pair of POUL KJÆRHOLM PK0 lounge chairs.

A pair of leather sheathed lounge chairs by JACQUES ADNET.

A mirror by CARLO SCARPA in Venini's Battuto glass.

A serving tray in rosewood and ebony by JEAN EMILE PUIFORCAT.

An early Minguren II end table by GEORGE NAKASHIMA.

A set of four tripod stools in pine by CHARLOTTE PERRIAND.

A Propeller folding stool by KAARE KLINT.


Design takes place in New York, December 12th.  See the full preview here.